Positives to take from Mallory Park

EVESHAM’S Mike Tustin declared himself happy with the progress made by TeamMTR across an action-packed day at Mallory Park on Sunday.

After getting back on a Triumph at Oulton Park for the ThundersportGB Championship, the Vale team decided to enter round five of the East Midland Racing Association Championship at Mallory Park.

Tustin was in action in six races across three events – two Superstock 600, two Buildbase Mallory Trophy and two Supersport 600 – with all races scoring points for each class.

However, Tustin and the team had not raced at the Leicestershire circuit for two years, so some tough challenges awaited.

In Superstock 600 race one, after qualifying in a satisfying sixth place, Tustin finished fifth as he reduced the lap times from qualifying by one second.

For race two, Tustin started in P5 and moved into fourth as he eyed a podium finish but a braking problem caused him to pull in on lap six, meaning the race was over for the team.

However, the team were able to repair the bike and for Buildbase Mallory Trophy race one Tustin qualified ninth.

He again got a good start and some impressive riding secured sixth place, which meant he started race two from the same position.

Another good start and faster lap times meant Tustin was able to hang on to the coattails of the leading group but Tustin outbraked himself going into the Edwina’s Chicane part of the circuit and this allowed the leading group to get away from him as he brought the bike home in fifth position, with the potential of a podium having again slipped away.

Tustin qualified in 12th place for Supersport 600 race one and, because of the team’s standard ‘Superstock’ spec bike, it was clear the lack of power compared to the full on ‘Supersport’ spec bikes was holding Tustin back in this particular class.

However, a good start allowed him to move up a couple of places in the race and he made it through to eighth place.

Eventually, though, Tustin was unable to match the blistering pace of the Supersport riders and faded back to a disappointing 11th.

There was an improvement in race two from the Evesham man and, from 11th place, he secured an eighth placed finish.

Afterwards Tustin said: “The team were happy with the progress made throughout the day and believe we are a lot closer to a good base set-up for Mallory Park.

“The lap times showed we were making good progress throughout the day and managed to improve on our grid positions in all races we finished.

“The team had not raced competitively at Mallory Park for two years, while many of the other riders have been riding there all season, so in the grand scheme of things the day’s riding was a good result.”

TeamMTR will be riding at Mallory Park in the final round of the EMRA Championship on September 11, which will be followed by round eight of the ThundersportGB Championship at Donington Park between September 23-25.

TeamMTR would like to welcome on board Entire Cover Ltd, an Aldridge-based insurance company, and also thank Johns Investments for its greatly appreciated help for the remainder of this year and into 2017.

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